Frindle by Andrew Clements
No More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman
Half Magic by Edward Eager
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
The Lower School Book Club Read in December:
The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963
by Christopher Paul Curtis A Newbery Honor Book
The Coretta Scott King Award "A wonderful middle-grade novel narrated by Kenny, 9, about his middle-class black family, the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan. When Kenny's 13-year-old brother, Byron, gets to be too much trouble, they head South to Birmingham to visit Grandma, the one person who can shape him up. And they happen to be in Birmingham when Grandma's church is blown up." (From Random House)
The librarians hope that each boy will read this with another guy, hopefully a male role model. Bring that guy to the first meeting.
Our First Meeting will be December 1st, 7:30am-8:15am for books and bagels
General Discussion Questions (From The Kids' Book Club Book):
How did the author turn a funny story into a tragedy?
What was the meaning of the Wool Pooh experience?
What are the connections between bullying and prejudice toward Rufus in the first part of the book and the church bombing in the second?
Were you surprised by the change in Byron in Birmingham?
Specific Issues in the Story (From randomhouse.com's teacher's guide)
Read Pages 66-74 when Byron's mother threatens to set him on fire if he continues to play with matches. This is an unbelievable punishment that she almost carries out. Was Byron's mother correct to choose such a harmful punishment? Was she bluffing to frighten Byron? How would it be viewed today? What should she have done?
Read Kenny's passage about bullying (pages 58-63) and discuss alternatives to bullying. When should mediation intervene? How do you avoid such situations? See if the boys can brainstorm to develop solutions.
Lower School Book Club
Ideas for January's Book:
Frindle by Andrew ClementsNo More Dead Dogs by Gordon Korman
Half Magic by Edward Eager
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
The Lower School Book Club Read in December:
The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963
by Christopher Paul CurtisA Newbery Honor Book
The Coretta Scott King Award
"A wonderful middle-grade novel narrated by Kenny, 9, about his middle-class black family, the Weird Watsons of Flint, Michigan. When Kenny's 13-year-old brother, Byron, gets to be too much trouble, they head South to Birmingham to visit Grandma, the one person who can shape him up. And they happen to be in Birmingham when Grandma's church is blown up." (From Random House)
The librarians hope that each boy will read this with another guy, hopefully a male role model. Bring that guy to the first meeting.
Our First Meeting will be December 1st, 7:30am-8:15am for books and bagels
Activities for the Book Club could include:
Mapping the Watsons' Travel Route between Flint, Michigan and Birmingham, AlabamaListening to Yakety Yak
Watch the Voices of Civil Rights for other Stories of the Civil Rights Era
Investigating Freezing Skin Using Ice Cube Trays
Read the Author's Biography
General Discussion Questions (From The Kids' Book Club Book):
How did the author turn a funny story into a tragedy?What was the meaning of the Wool Pooh experience?
What are the connections between bullying and prejudice toward Rufus in the first part of the book and the church bombing in the second?
Were you surprised by the change in Byron in Birmingham?
Specific Issues in the Story (From randomhouse.com's teacher's guide)
Read Pages 66-74 when Byron's mother threatens to set him on fire if he continues to play with matches. This is an unbelievable punishment that she almost carries out. Was Byron's mother correct to choose such a harmful punishment? Was she bluffing to frighten Byron? How would it be viewed today? What should she have done?Read Kenny's passage about bullying (pages 58-63) and discuss alternatives to bullying. When should mediation intervene? How do you avoid such situations? See if the boys can brainstorm to develop solutions.
Wrap Up
Watch YouTube Book Report video about Prejudice